Should a beginner learn the main lines for the Sicilian?

Is it alright for a beginner to learn the main lines for the Sicilian?

It's really unnecessary. Just develpoing in the center and looking out for tactics is fine. If you did learn lines they'd be useless as you'd rarely if ever get to use them.

It's tricky.  I usually reccomend 1.e4 e5 for beginners, especially those not wanting to use up a lot of time researching 10 or 15 moves into the opening.  It's possible to play the Sicilian passably without knowing any real lines, just using basic opening theory, but it's difficult once you get higher up (say, around 1200 or 1300 you have to start to learn some basic lines to get you positions you're comfortable with). 

If you play it a lot I'd say watch a couple of videos on the main ideas behind it...

It is probably a big waste of time for a beginner to learn the main lines of any opening. They'll march out 5-6 moves and get slaughtered by a cheap tactical trick or make a positional blunder and get stuck in a dreary position that they'll then blame on that opening.

Opening lines at beginner level are completely pointless; none of your opponents will play theory more than a move or two, and usually that's on accident.  If you play the Sicilian you will face a bunch of 2.Bc4's, 2.d4 ..cd 3.Qxd4, h3 and a3 played before move 10, and other bad moves.  You can still play 1...c5 though...just don't waste time looking at theory.  You could also play 1...e5 until you get to the level where your opponents don't play zombie opening moves(2.Bc4 against everything lol).  

There is no theory for 2.Bc4(usable anyway).  If someone plays that move they clearly don't understand the Sicilian, and thus preparing for such a move as black is pointless(I guess it's possible for a player to play this move to get an opponent off his preparation turf, but there are much better moves to accomplish that than the robotic 2.Bc4).  Just know the elementary concept of 2...e6 and then play general ideas in the sicilian structure and you'll be fine.  

Yes.

However, as a beginner it is more important to learn the 2 different theories of chess. And, how to apply them in practice over the board.

You should know, that in the Sicilian, Black is applying the Hypermodern Theory of Chess.

If you would like to know more let me know.

it's usually never the opening that wins you the game.

So no, don't waste your time on the Sicilian.

There are actually a few respectable lines in the Sicilian with Bc4.  However, at a beginning level, all you have to know about it is that (generally) e6 renders it impotent. 

I would say that it wouldn't have to much affect on improving your rating, but if you enjoy it than do it. 

If you learn a Sicilian variation, you'll hardly ever get to use it. White opponents most of the time don't go into open Sicilian mainlines. You'll probably see a lot of 2.bc4, 2.c3, 2.f4, etc.

If you want the Sicilian with the least amount of theory, I think it's the Sveshnikov. There's a book on it called "The Easiest Sicilian." That might be a good one to test out and see if you like the Sicilian in general.

I myself always play the Sicilian and I think it's a good opening for everyone, even beginners. I've played it since I started. Your king will often come under pressure. If chess openings were martial arts styles, I think the Sicilian would be Judo. In the SIcilian, black's pieces typically get dominate on the queenside and white on the kingside. I think it's easier for white to find a plan than black, since the easiest plans to find in chess are kingside attacks. I also think white has a little more room for error than black.

Put it this way:

As White I have my students develop with Nf3, Nc3, and Bb5 until they are about 1000. They I have them play 2.Nf3 and 3.d4. Depending on the student, I then have them play some simple setup with Be2 and 0-0, or a "Rauzer" setup with Be3, f3, Qd2, and 0-0-0.

As Black I don't teach my students the Sicilian unless they are 1600+, and even then only if it's time for a change. Most students at that level I still have play 1...e5.

I would say, "yes" because some sicilian lines are more easier learnt and therefore, easier to apply. As some commentors pointed out, some experienced beginners are more apt than others. Since we ("experienced patzers") started out in an similiar way, i'd say so be it. " It's not what knocks you down, that determines your reaction ...but how you find the will to get up and react that determines how you're going to continue."

just play at your own risk. lol

I switched from 1... e5, because I was fed up with the Italian, especially the fried liver attack. It was the only theory I knew very well and it brought me boring games, because sometimes almost complete games repeated each other. I wanted to play the Spanish, but hardly ever met it. And when I got it, they did not play the main line.

That is why I switched to Sicilian. I knew I wasn't good at it, but at least I had fun. And yes, I have again games that are similar, but this time I like it. Probably because the Sicilian suits me better.

If you want to learn Sicilian, just do it. If you want to improve, you have to start somewhere. Why not at the opening?

If you expect that that is of great influence against your opponents? Probably not, unless you learn the Sicilian by concept and not by heart. What we tend to do is losing games by tactical errors, not losing on strategy. But if you play GM games, then might you get an idea of the tactics involved (if you take the effort trying to understand the moves). That way you can learn applied tactics, that is those tactics that are characteristic for some kind of position.

Learning moves by heart is imo useless.

Memorizing move orders can be very useful; it saves time in faster time controls, and gives you an idea of some good set ups.  of course it is no replacement for individual thinking, but there is certainly no harm to it as long as you do not begin to play mechanically.

I don't think it is good for beginners to memorize.

I don't think a beginner would be concerned about faster time controls.

All right ? Yes.

Useful ? Debatable.

Necessary ? No.